A system and method for structured-light dimensioning is disclosed. The method includes combining multiple images using different camera settings to provide all of the information necessary dimensioning. What results is an improved ability to sense a light pattern reflected from an object's surfaces, especially when the lighting and/or object color make imaging all surfaces simultaneously difficult.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A structured-light dimensioning system, comprising: a projector subsystem for projecting a light pattern onto an object having dimensioning surfaces to cause pattern distortions of the light pattern; a camera subsystem for capturing pattern images, the pattern images comprising the light pattern on the dimensioning surfaces; a control subsystem communicatively coupled to the projector subsystem and the camera subsystem, the control subsystem comprising (i) a processor for analyzing and processing the pattern images and (ii) a memory for storing the pattern images and a software program, wherein the software program when executed by the processor configures the control subsystem to (i) enable the camera subsystem to capture multiple pattern images, each pattern image captured using different camera-subsystem settings, (ii) incorporate the multiple pattern images into an image composite with a resolvable light pattern on the dimensioning surfaces, and (iii) use the pattern distortions in the image composite to compute a range.
A 3D dimensioning system uses structured light to measure objects. It includes a projector that shines a light pattern onto the object. A camera captures images of the distorted light pattern on the object's surfaces. A control system with a processor and memory controls the projector and camera. The system takes multiple images using different camera settings (like exposure or aperture). These images are combined into a single composite image where the light pattern is clearly visible on all surfaces. The system then analyzes the distortions in the light pattern within this composite image to calculate the distance to different points on the object, thus enabling 3D dimensioning.
2. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the structured-light dimensioning system is capable of being handheld.
The 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance - is designed to be handheld.
3. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 2 , wherein the image composite comprises multiple pattern images aligned and combined to remove differences caused by hand motion.
The handheld 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance compensates for hand motion by aligning and combining the multiple images into a composite, effectively removing differences caused by the user's movement during capture.
4. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the projected light pattern is an infrared (IR) pattern of dots.
In the 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance, the light pattern projected by the projector is an infrared (IR) pattern of dots.
5. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the resolvable light pattern comprises at least one visible pattern element.
In the 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance, the final composite image that is produced contains at least one clearly visible element of the projected light pattern, ensuring that the system can properly analyze the distortions.
6. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the composite image comprises segmented pattern images.
In the 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance, the composite image is formed by piecing together segmented portions of the individual pattern images.
7. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the composite image comprises a single image that is a mathematical combination of pattern images.
In the 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance, the composite image is created by mathematically combining the individual pattern images into a single image.
8. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the camera-subsystem settings comprise an image-sensor shutter speed.
In the 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance, one of the camera settings that is adjusted between image captures is the image sensor's shutter speed.
9. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the camera-subsystem settings comprise an imaging lens aperture size.
In the 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance, one of the camera settings that is adjusted between image captures is the imaging lens's aperture size.
10. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the software program configures the control subsystem to identify dimensioning surfaces in a pattern image.
In the 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance, the software identifies the specific surfaces of the object that are intended to be dimensioned within the captured images.
11. The structured-light dimensioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the software program configures the control subsystem to compute an object volume using the image composite.
In the 3D dimensioning system described as using a projector to shine a light pattern onto an object; a camera captures images of the distorted light pattern; a control system takes multiple images with different camera settings and combines them into a composite image; and analyzes light pattern distortions to calculate distance, the system uses the composite image to calculate the overall volume of the object.
12. A method to compute an object's dimensions using a structured-light dimensioning system, the method comprising: projecting a light pattern onto an object to cause pattern distortions of the light pattern; capturing a pattern image of the light pattern projected onto the object; selecting dimensioning surfaces on the object in the pattern image; identifying dimensioning surfaces that have a requisite pattern for dimensioning; incorporating the pattern image into an image composite; adjusting a camera subsystem's settings and repeating the capturing, selecting, identifying, and incorporating until the image composite has the requisite pattern for dimensioning on all dimensioning surfaces; and processing the image composite to compute the object's dimensions, comprising using pattern distortions in the image composite to compute a range.
A method for computing an object's dimensions using structured light involves projecting a light pattern onto the object, which distorts the pattern on its surface. A camera captures an image of this distorted pattern. Specific surfaces to be measured are selected within the image. The system identifies which surfaces have a sufficient pattern for accurate dimensioning. The image is incorporated into a composite image. The camera settings are adjusted, and the process of capturing, selecting, identifying, and incorporating is repeated until all surfaces have a suitable pattern in the composite. Finally, the composite image is processed to calculate the object's dimensions by analyzing the pattern distortions to determine the range (distance) to each surface.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein at least three dimensioning surfaces are selected and the object's dimension is the object's volume.
The method to compute an object's dimensions using structured light by projecting a light pattern; capturing and incorporating pattern images into a composite; adjusting camera settings and repeating until the composite has the requisite pattern on all surfaces; and processing the composite to compute dimensions calculates the object's volume by selecting at least three dimensioning surfaces on the object.
14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the image composite comprises at least two pattern images.
The method to compute an object's dimensions using structured light by projecting a light pattern; capturing and incorporating pattern images into a composite; adjusting camera settings and repeating until the composite has the requisite pattern on all surfaces; and processing the composite to compute dimensions uses a composite image that consists of at least two individual pattern images.
15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the image composite comprises a combination of pattern images into a single image.
The method to compute an object's dimensions using structured light by projecting a light pattern; capturing and incorporating pattern images into a composite; adjusting camera settings and repeating until the composite has the requisite pattern on all surfaces; and processing the composite to compute dimensions creates a single composite image by combining multiple pattern images into one.
16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the requisite pattern comprises at least one discernable pattern element.
The method to compute an object's dimensions using structured light by projecting a light pattern; capturing and incorporating pattern images into a composite; adjusting camera settings and repeating until the composite has the requisite pattern on all surfaces; and processing the composite to compute dimensions requires the identified surfaces to contain at least one discernable element of the projected pattern for reliable measurement.
17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein, the processing of the image composite comprises computing at least one range between the structured light dimensioning system and at least one dimensioning surface.
The method to compute an object's dimensions using structured light by projecting a light pattern; capturing and incorporating pattern images into a composite; adjusting camera settings and repeating until the composite has the requisite pattern on all surfaces; and processing the composite to compute dimensions involves calculating the distance (range) between the structured light system and at least one dimensioning surface.
18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the camera subsystem settings comprises an image sensor's exposure time.
In the method to compute an object's dimensions using structured light by projecting a light pattern; capturing and incorporating pattern images into a composite; adjusting camera settings and repeating until the composite has the requisite pattern on all surfaces; and processing the composite to compute dimensions, the camera setting that is adjusted is the image sensor's exposure time.
19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the camera subsystem settings comprises an image-lens aperture size.
In the method to compute an object's dimensions using structured light by projecting a light pattern; capturing and incorporating pattern images into a composite; adjusting camera settings and repeating until the composite has the requisite pattern on all surfaces; and processing the composite to compute dimensions, the camera setting that is adjusted is the imaging lens's aperture size.
20. A structured-light dimensioning system, comprising: a projector subsystem for projecting a light pattern onto an object having dimensioning surfaces to cause pattern distortions of the light pattern; a camera subsystem for capturing pattern images, the pattern images comprising the light pattern on the dimensioning surfaces; a control subsystem communicatively coupled to the projector subsystem and the camera subsystem, the control subsystem comprising (i) a processor for analyzing and processing the pattern images and (ii) a memory for storing the pattern images and a software program, wherein the software program when executed by the processor configures the control subsystem to (i) enable the camera subsystem to capture multiple pattern images, each pattern image captured using different camera-subsystem settings, (ii) incorporate the multiple pattern images into an image composite with a resolvable light pattern on the dimensioning surfaces, and (iii) use the pattern distortions in the image composite to compute a volume of the object.
A 3D dimensioning system uses structured light to measure objects. It includes a projector that shines a light pattern onto the object. A camera captures images of the distorted light pattern on the object's surfaces. A control system with a processor and memory controls the projector and camera. The system takes multiple images using different camera settings (like exposure or aperture). These images are combined into a single composite image where the light pattern is clearly visible on all surfaces. The system then analyzes the distortions in the light pattern within this composite image to calculate the volume of the object.
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October 21, 2014
September 12, 2017
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